10 Things You Can Do to Improve The Quality of Your Relationship

Falling in love is fun and overwhelming. It is the stage of your relationship that may hold the sweetest and sexiest memories. However, the most important part of any relationship is the day to day moments that keep us together.

Daily nurturing your relationship is what makes for a healthy, lasting bond. Whether you are newly committed or have been married for years, there are simple practices you can incorporate into your relationship to help maintain the joy and pleasure of being together. Here are ten practices you can do to improve the quality of your relationship.

1. Listen to Your Partner

Excellent listening skills are not just for getting you ahead at work. Knowing how to listen to your partner will help build a solid foundation of trust. When you listen well, you will understand your partner’s feelings, needs, and desires.

According to the International Listening Association, more confident people listen better to others than more insecure people. Your excellent listening skills are a sign of confidence. Not only that but when you listen well to your partner, you create an environment of mutual respect. Take the time to hear and communicate honestly with your partner.

2. Make Time for Intimacy

The difference in friendships and committed partnerships is physical intimacy. To have a healthy relationship, you must understand your partner’s needs when it comes to physical intimacy. This practice includes not only your sexual contact but also other acts of intimate connection.

As we learned in elementary school with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, our sexual desire is a basic human need. As life gets busy with work and family, our sex lives can take a back burner. You may find that scheduling time for sexual intimacy may improve the quality of your relationship.

Also, focusing on other acts of intimacy like stroking your partner’s back while you watch a show instead of scrolling through your phone, may improve your connection. Pay attention to the level of intimate connection you have with your partner throughout the day.

3. Have the heart for Service

We live in a world of constant messages about meeting our own needs. However, in a happy relationship, you must focus on the needs of each other. To do this, you must have the heart for service.

Quality relationships always require selflessness. It is the nature of relationships. This practice is also true in friendship and parenting. Connection with others is dependent on our ability to let go of selfish desires.

You can practice this in little things like delivering water and pain medicine bedside when your partner has a nasty cold. You can also demonstrate this in more significant things like supporting your partner in changing jobs even though that may be a financial risk. The key is not to always put yourself and your wants first.

4. Make a Plan for the Future

If you are a committed unmarried couple, it is especially important to make a plan for the future. It is vital to know the long-term goals of the relationship in order to feel secure in your relationship. This practice will help eliminate resentment.

Whether you one day want to get married or not, it is vital for each person in the relationship to have the same expectations. This level of honest communication allows for deeper intimacy and less room for misunderstandings.

For marriage, having a plan for the future also relieves stress. Knowing each of your priorities and goals allows you to move forward together on the same page.

5. Know When To Apologize

Do not be unwilling to apologize duringyour relationship. If you have made a mistake or hurt your partner with your words or actions, it is important to apologize. This practice will create a foundation of trust in your relationship.

When you apologize you acknowledge and take responsibility for any wrongdoing, a proper apology should include remorse for your actions. You should also allow space for your partner to be heard after you apologize.

6. Forgive and Forget

When you are the person in the relationship who has been wronged, you should allow your partner to apologize. You must decide if the offense is something you can forgive and move on from. Once you accept the apology, the healthiest thing for your relationship is to forgive and forget.

Do not hold on to your partner’s mistakes and use them as ammunition later. This doing is unfair to your partner and will create division and distrust. If your partner has done something you can genuinely not forgive, your best bet is to move on.

7. Plan Regular Date Nights

It is easy to allow your relationship to get stale. Life is busy and time together can quickly become the tasks of daily life. One way to keep your relationship healthy is to have fun together.

Make time to enjoy each other’s company by scheduling regular date nights. Keep a standing date on the calendar so that work and family do not keep you from spending quality time together. Make sure to mix up your dates with different kinds of activities to keep things interesting.

8. Express Gratitude

We all want to know that we are valued. One way to improve the quality of your relationship is to let your partner know you are grateful for them. This act can happen with a simple thank you, a sweet note or a thank you gift.

According to a study at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, expressing gratitude offers many personal benefits. From less focus on material possessions to increased happiness and reduced risks of disease, expressing and reflecting on appreciation improves quality of life.

In my relationship, I also find that when I am mindful of expressing gratitude, I receive more appreciation. This one change in how I interact with my partner benefits all other areas of our relationship.

9. Discover Each Other’s Love Language

According to Gary Chapman’s best-selling book The 5 Love Languages, we each have a primary way we connect with others and feel loved. Taking the time to discover each other’s love language will open the door to broader connection.

My love language is words of affirmation. When my partner takes the time to notice and affirm my contributions to our household and relationship, I feel valued and seen. This practice leads to higher intimacy and the overall health of our relationship.

10. Take Ownership Of Yourself

One of the most significant ways you can add to the quality of your relationship is by taking ownership of yourself. Nothing will drain a relationship more quickly than expecting your partner to meet your every need.

Knowing who you are and operating in an independent space gives your partner the freedom to meet their own needs and accomplish their personal goals. When we put too much pressure on our relationship to be the primary source of fulfillment in our lives, we will always be disappointed.

Take ownership of your behavior, work, and goals. This practice will add to the quality and longevity of your relationship. Incorporate these ten practices into your relationship to improve the quality of your connection.